Taking Apprentices

Taking Apprentices

While the siblings underwent the Illusion Realm trial, Xu Fan began examining his own body.

"Although I swallowed the Death Soul Worm in the end, I still lost nearly half my Soul Power."

"The burden on my spiritual energy and Mental Power has also grown heavier. It will take at least half a year to recover."

Xu Fan did not care much about his injuries. They were not permanent; as long as he could recover, that was enough.

"First, set a Small Goal: don't leave the sect for 10 Years."

"And stay far away from the Protagonist."

As Xu Fan spoke, he waved a hand and produced a Tea Set, then took out a tin of Spirit Tea that could steady the mind.

He poured spirit water into the teapot, and a small flame appeared beneath it.

"After I get back, I must refine more Puppet Battle Beasts. Otherwise, if I really have to go out, there'll be no security at all."

He drank tea as he contemplated his future.

At this moment, an old man carrying half a sack of millet arrived at the Little Boy's home, his face clouded with worry.

The moment he entered, he saw Xu Fan drinking tea and was so frightened that he hurriedly tried to kneel.

A gentle force lightly held the old man up.

"Old sir, there's no need to kneel. You're the one who saved my life. I should be thanking you," Xu Fan said warmly. He had already learned the full sequence of events.

"To save an immortal is my good fortune," the old man hurriedly said, joy beginning to bloom in his heart.

The immortal's attitude had already shown that his gamble had paid off.

"You saved me, so I must repay you. This is karma."

"What do you want?" Xu Fan asked slowly. He did not feel superior to ordinary people. They were all merely chess pieces among living beings; even Cultivators could not live forever.

"I have no sons or daughters. I only wish to spend the rest of my life with my old wife, free of disaster and illness."

Without much hesitation, the old man directly stated what he wanted most.

Xu Fan gave the old man an approving glance. It was a practical and reasonable request.

A bottle of Longevity Pills appeared in Xu Fan's hand. For Mortals, they could grant 10 Years of life free from illness and misfortune. Xu Fan had refined an extra bottle while taking on an elixir-refining task, never expecting it to come in handy now.

"There are ten Longevity Pills in this bottle. You and your wife should each take one every two years."

"Go home and pack now. Once the two children wake up, you'll follow me to the Heavenly Gate Sect. Someone will take care of you there," Xu Fan said. Half a month had already passed, and he did not know what the sect's situation was like.

"Immortal, these two children, they..." The old man looked at the unconscious siblings and asked.

"They are receiving the inheritance to become immortals," Xu Fan replied casually.

"Oh, then I'll go back and pack first."

Not long after the old man left the Little Boy's house, the Little Boy woke up first.

Xu Fan looked at the Little Boy with satisfaction. Though his aptitude was somewhat lacking, his simple honesty, unwavering loyalty, care for friends, and protection of family greatly pleased Xu Fan.

Within the Illusion Realm, the Little Boy had undergone all manner of tests concerning human nature. His pure heart had moved even Xu Fan.

A trace of complicated emotion flashed through the Little Boy's eyes. Then a hand containing white light stroked his head.

"You're a good child."

Before long, the Little Boy fell into a deep sleep.

"When you wake up, everything will be different."

After settling the Little Boy, Xu Fan turned his gaze toward the Little Girl, his eyes carrying a hint of delighted surprise.

"She really is prime material for cultivation," Xu Fan exclaimed. The Little Girl's performance in the Illusion Realm had truly dazzled his eyes.

In Xu Fan's words, she was a female version of Heavenly Venerate Han. She knew what she wanted and what she could do. She had kindness in her heart but was not a saintly fool; she possessed vast wealth without flaunting it, was bold enough to swallow heaven, yet meticulous as a hair.

All she lacked, compared to the Protagonist, was a Golden Finger.

The Little Girl slowly woke up. Before she could speak, she received the same treatment as the Little Boy.

"What a fine pair of siblings. Your master will be counting on you two to have my back in the future."

Xu Fan held one child in each arm and walked out of the little house.

A small Spiritual Wind Vessel emerged from Xu Fan's body, landed on an open patch of ground nearby, and transformed into a ten-meter-long Spirit Boat.

The old man arrived in a hurry with an Old Woman.

Once everyone was settled, Xu Fan waved his hand, and the Spiritual Wind Vessel flew toward the Heavenly Gate Sect.

At the Heavenly Gate Sect, outside the Forbidden Barrier of Xu Fan's Small Hilltop, Wang Yulun sat outside the barrier with a desolate expression.

After learning from Ye Xiaoyao that Xu Fan had met with disaster, Wang Yulun had guarded this place ever since returning to the sect.

"Brother Xu, I'm sorry."

"With your cautious nature, it was rare enough for you to agree to come out for my wedding, yet I never thought you would..." Wang Yulun said bitterly. Although Ye Xiaoyao had said Xu Fan was not dead, he was still steeped in self-reproach.

In his heart, he even resented Ye Xiaoyao for insisting on dragging Xu Fan along.

At this moment, a graceful figure flew to Wang Yulun's side.

A bowl of rice porridge and several small dishes were placed before Wang Yulun.

"Husband, Brother Xu possesses talents that span heaven and earth. Nothing will happen to him."

"Perhaps he is recovering from his injuries somewhere right now. Once he heals, he may return," Murong Qian'er said, her heart aching as she looked at the gaunt Wang Yulun.

"Don't comfort me. I just feel guilty."

"Ever since I met Brother Xu, I never saw him leave the sect. I never expected that this time, for my sake..."

"Qian'er, I'll wait another half month. I still owe Brother Xu a wedding gift. I want to give it to him personally," Wang Yulun said. In his heart, Xu Fan had long become the benefactor who had remade him. Without Xu Fan, he would likely still be an ordinary Outer Sect Disciple.

"Alright. I'll wait with Husband."

At the same time, in an Immortal City outside the Heavenly Gate Sect, Xu Fan arranged for them to stay at an inn under the Pang Family Merchant Guild. He let the two elders rest at the inn, where someone would naturally make arrangements for them later.

Outside the Heavenly Gate Sect, at the Outer Sect Affairs Hall.

Xu Fan brought the two curious siblings into a hall.

"Senior Brother, I'm here to handle Apprentice Registration."

Xu Fan handed his Identity Token to the Deacon before him.

"Do you understand the standards for taking apprentices?" the Deacon asked after glancing at Xu Fan's Identity Token.

"I understand. The minimum requirement is Four Spiritual Roots," Xu Fan replied.

"Very well. You must provide your disciples' resources yourself. If you entrust the sect to train them, it costs 2,000 Spirit Stones per person."

"Also, if your disciples wish to officially enter the Heavenly Gate Sect, they must reach the Foundation Establishment Stage before the age of forty."

"If your disciples are outstanding, the sect will also reward you." The Deacon looked at Xu Fan, a strange glint passing through his eyes. Those who took apprentices were generally Cultivators with no hope of advancement, no family or relatives, and whose Life Span Limit was approaching.

They did not want their inheritance to be severed, so they searched outside for an apprentice fated to them, someone who could inherit everything they possessed. The sect encouraged this as well.

"If you understand all this, take your two disciples for a Spiritual Root Test first, then go to the Hall of Heart Inquiry."

"Once everything is complete, come back to me to collect their Identity Tokens."

"Thank you, Deacon."

Xu Fan led the two children toward the place for testing Spiritual Roots.

(End of this chapter)